Ashley Rodriguez on for Jamie Bosio
Kaylan Rumbo on for Anthony Hernandez
Evan Green on for Robert Montovio

Jesse Victory and Anthony Hernandez are rewarded with recalls to the first XI after their performances against Europa FC last time out. Montovio is also back after injury which means Rodriguez and Green drop to the bench while Barnett has been unable to recover from a niggling injury.

If last week was all about losing with honour this match was quite the opposite. Gib Utd proved incapable of breaking down a dogged Europa Point side. Though the first half was one of United dominance the lack of bite up front meant that on loan Lincoln keeper Hankin only had to deal with floated in crosses. One of those crosses was summarily meant by Aymen’s head and was only a whisker wide. An Ashley Perez cross cum shot cannoned off the upright and the ball unluckily went between the open legs of Podesta. Fortune, that fickle mistress deciding to abandon United for the moment.

The second half could not have had a worse portent. Jamie Bosio went into a 50/50 tackle with another Lincoln loanee Debarr. Both players clashed fiercely in a fairly contested contest but Jamie’s cry of pain was audible to anyone at the Stadium. He writhed in pain on the floor as the physio run on. Any concerns supporters had quickly deepened as news filtered through that an ambulance had been summoned. Jamie was stretched off the ground and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

United continued to fail to penetrate Europa Point’s defence with aimless long balls and substitutions had no major impact on the result. A somewhat generous penalty given by Mr Warwick in the 90th minute sealed the 3 points for Europa Point who give themselves a life line in their fight for relegation. For United these are worrying times as form has dipped the first murmurs of disgruntlement can be heard amid supporters.

Jesse Victory on for Ashley Rodriguez
Anthony Hernandez on for Evan Green

If ever there was a victory with honour it was this one. Free scoring Europa were kept to the solitary goal and indeed kept to time wasting antics in the second half as United players decided to die with honour on the pitch and remind the Gibraltar football community that the never say die attitude is there. Stellar performances for all the team with mentions in dispatches for Chino and Anthony who both made Football Gibraltar’s Team of the Week. Morale is high for the game against Europa Point that will end our second round of matches.

4th placed Glacis United were the next opponents for the Red and Whites who come into the match after conceding two points in extremis versus Lions last week. Manolo shuffled his pack by handing Rumbo a start and sitting Montovio on the bench as more of a rear guard action was required for this match. The match was well fought with United stifling Glacis’ attempts during the first half quite effectively. The most notable act of the first 45 minutes was a nasty tackle on Rumbo by Tirado which only saw the claret player see yellow when perhaps a harsher punishment was in order. Chino was called into action in the second half but there was no real danger against his goal. Former United player Jared Buhagiar made a cameo appearance for the last 10 minutes, with another explayer in Carl Thomas sitting out the game on the bench. Ultimately a valuable point for United that continue 6th for another week. Next up its Round 2 of the Gibtelecom Rock Cup against Man 62.

Evan Green on for Ashley Rodriguez
Kaylan Rumbo on for Paul Podesta
Dexter Panzavechia on for Ashley Perez

Nuñez welcomed back Podesta and Montovio to the starting line up after recovering from their respective niggles giving the line up a rather offensive looking edge with both forwards playing in front of Hernandez. Brad Power also confirmed his recovery by ,aking a welcome return to the bench where he was joined by new signing from Europa Point FC Paul Grech.

The game proved to be a dull and torrid affair which at times became a pitch battle across the pitch, the 8 bookings the teams shared a testament to this. United proved to be the most effective with the chances created. Podesta was to have a goal chalked off due a rather harsh offside position, considering he was behind the ball as the play was made. Paul was also guilty of a glaring miss after great work by Montovio and Pishu in the build up. A rasping cross was blasted over the crossbar from point blank range by the striker. The younger of the Hernandez brothers has made the right wing back berth his own and has been playing with a maturity beyond his years and proved to be United’s best man on the field on the night.

Ultimately the game was to be the tale of two penalties. First it was Aymen that was felled in the Lions area. Mr Gilbert pointed to the spot without hesitation and Robert proved to be his effective self by burying the pen and notching up his 5th goal of the season. However United failed to capitalise on their advantage and allowed Lions to creep back into a game they had had few chances to boast off. Their tenacity was rewarded by a penalty in the 93rd minute of the game. An incoming cross seemed to cannon off the outstretched hands of Erin Barnett. Though United players vociferously protested that the ball had struck the defender’s face Mr Gilbert was resolute in his decision. Gonzalez equalised with virtually the last kick of a game United should have safely put away.